Being Peace or Suffering

Being Peace or Suffering

Life is filled with suffering, but it also filled with many wonders, like the blue sky, the sunshine, the eves of a baby. We must stay in touch with wonders of life. They are within us and all around us everywhere, any time.

If we are not happy, if we are not peaceful, we cannot share peace and happiness with others, even those we love, those who live under the same roof. If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower. Everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.

Do we need to make a special effort to enjoy the sunshine? No we just enjoy it. Wherever we are, any time, we are able to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other, even the sensation of our breathing.

We don't need to travel to China to enjoy the blue sky. We don't have to travel into the future to enjoy our breathing. We can stay in touch with these things right now. It would be pity if we only aware of suffering.

If we are happy, not only us, but everyone will benefit from it. This is the most basic way of being peace.

- Thich Nhat Hanh